Join Curtis and Hayden as they visit with Randle Chowning about the early days of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils; and Randle's wife, Jaynie Simon- Chowning, and her stories of her father, Si Simon, and his major influence on the music scene in Springfield, Missouri and around the world. 

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Tom Koob, Ozarks storyteller extraordinaire, is back on the podcast with a tale of murder and mystery on the banks of the James River. Tom has researched the death of young Alice Stallion, and he not only brings his knowledge to this tragic episode but also his humanity. We know you'll find Tom's story fascinating!

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Join our guests Tammy Morton and Angel Wolf as we talk about the strange and uncanny superstitions of the Ozarks. From mad stones to medicines, the Ozarks hills and valleys remain a repository of the folkways of the "old country." Who better to discuss these superstitions than two multi-generational Ozarkers who know the lore and legends?

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Dr. Brooks Blevins, the premier historian of the Ozarks and Noel Boyd professor of history at MSU, sits down with Curtis and Hayden to discuss the tension between the "cold, hard facts" of history and the more whimsical world of folk stories and songs. From "signal trees" to the folktales of Vance Randolph, Dr. Blevins evaluates the relevance of folktales and ballads to historical studies and explains how he has become more accepting of folktales as an essential element in Ozarks culture.

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Celebrate Halloween with Tammy Morton and Angel Wolf as they join Curtis and Hayden to talk about ghosts past and present. The deep valleys and secluded caves of the Ozarks have always lent themselves to tales of the preternatural, and this tradition of storytelling will never die--kinda like the ghosts themselves! Feel the eerie on our latest episode.

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Join Curtis and Hayden as they talk with Josh Heston, founder of the State of the Ozarks online community and author of the book Plague Child's Doctor, as well as weekly newsletters and other works. Josh has extensively studied the Celtic culture, and he shows how that culture continues to influence the Ozarks through the traditions and beliefs of the Scots-Irish who settled here in the 1800s. As a result of this Celtic influence, superstitions, folk beliefs, and ghost stories are still alive and well in the hills! History, folklore, and the paranormal come together in this informative episode.

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Travis Holt is back with a slew of moonshine stories from Newton County, Arkansas. From the folks who brewed it to the lawmen who pursued it, Travis reminds us that moonshine was more than a cliche when it comes to the Ozarks: It was a way of life! Travis is one of our favorite storytellers, and we know you’ll enjoy this wild and wooly episode.

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Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with Misty Langdon, a multi-generational Ozarker who lives with her husband on her family's farm. Misty talks about growing up in the beautiful and rugged hills of Low Gap, Arkansas, and the ongoing efforts of some to intervene in the environment and culture of those hills. She is a local historian--Misty records the stories of her friends and neighbors in her Remnants Project--and has a comprehensive knowledge of the Buffalo's past. She is concerned about the abuse of the river at the hands of careless revelers as well as the future of the river in the hands of moneyed interests. Don't miss this important episode!

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Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with comedian Shannon Thomason, also known as "Applejack," for a reading of folktales from the collections of Vance Randolph. These tales focus on dimwitted Jasper and similar young men who may not be too bright but nevertheless come out on top in the end. These are the stories that amused the folks of a hundred years ago and continue to tickle funny bones today. They also spawned a character who has shown up in a host of popular shows, from Jethro Bodean in "The Beverly Hillbillies," Lil Abner in the comic strip by Al Capp, and Junior Samples in "Hee-Haw" to Karl Childers in "Sling Blade" and Delmar O'Donnell in "O, Brother, Where Art Thou?"

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Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with Jae McFerron, current director of the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama and longtime Branson entertainer and Silver Dollar City comedian. Jae recalls the iconic Shad Heller and his role in promoting and embodying the Ozarks spirit. Jae also talks about the influence of Harold Bell Wright’s The Shepherd of the Hills and its ongoing significance in the outdoor drama. 

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